News Release USDL: 97-07
Thursday, January 9, 1997
Contact: Stephen Gaskill, (202) 219-6091

Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich appointed Gregory R. Watchman to the position of Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, effective January 11. Watchman replaces outgoing Assistant Secretary Joseph A. Dear, who resigned to become chief of staff to Washington State Governor-elect Gary Locke.

"As Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health for nearly four years, Joe demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to the safety and health of Americans in the workplace," Reich said. "Under his leadership, OSHA became a model of reinvention."

"OSHA's mission is to protect the safety and health of the workforce. Greg will help ensure that OSHA works better so that Americans can work more safely," said Reich.

Watchman was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration (OSHA) in January 1995. His portfolio includes regulatory policy, safety and health standards, and legislative and interagency affairs.

Prior to joining OSHA, Watchman served on the Labor Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. He was Counsel to the Subcommittee from 1991 to 1993 and Chief Labor Counsel from 1993 to 1995. While there, he was responsible for legislation and oversight involving labor-management relations, equal employment opportunity, occupational safety and health, minimum wage and overtime, family and medical leave, job training, and other employment-related issues.

From 1989 to 1991 he served as the Associate Counsel for Civil Rights on the Education and Labor Committee in the US House of Representatives, where he was responsible for legislation and oversight involving equal employment opportunity and other employment issues.

Watchman is a graduate of Williams College and recived his law degree from Cornell Law School. He began his career as a labor associate with the law firm of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius in Washington DC.